Lfl 333 

I.M4 B4 

Copy 1 




COPYRIGHTED 1910, BY 
FRKD B. HARUON 



I 



m 



A HISTORICAL 
RECAPITULATION 



n 



The Public Schools 



^1D 



of 



Madison, N. J. 



By Fred B. Bardon 
President of the School Board 




At the time of the Dedication of the 
Central Avenue School House 



Nineteen Hundred and Ten 



■ — I c 



2 WJ 









C)CIA278731 



PREFACE 

There is no subject that appeals more generally to the masses than 
the education of our children, and when such an education is brought 
about through the medium of the Public School it clearly emphasizes 
that great work and creates greater interest in all that pertains to it. 

The same interest was manifested in our Public School system 
over a hundred years ago that is manifested to-day, and although every- 
thing was crude and, to us, seemingly inappropriate, it must be ac- 
knowledged that the spirit of energy and progress was there. 

The compiling of the history of the first school in Madison and 
considerable of the data accompanying the same has been the work of 
over thirty years, and has been secured largely from those who have long 
since passed away. 

Through Matthias L. Burnett, Colonel Wm. Brittin, Enoch N. 
Samson, Chas. C. Force, Dr. Louis Sayre, John H. Harris, Pierson A. 
Freeman, Wm. H. Sayre, Louis Beaupland, Wm. J. Brittin, Caleb 
C. Burroughs, Mrs. Helen M. Brittin and Benj. W. Burnett, I se- 
cured much of my information, and at a number of receptions held by 
the "Old Boys' Club of Bottle Hill" there was the usual exchange of 
"schoolboy experiences" which made valuable history, and all this I 
carefully treasured for use on such an occasion as the dedication of this 
handsome new school makes so fittingly appropriate. 

While much of the material of later years may still be fresh in 
the memories of some of our older people, it will not lessen the interest 
or pleasure in reading the history of our Public Schools, covering a 
period of one hundred and seven years. 

I can only hope that the reader will enjoy these pages of history 
as much as the author did in their preparation, and if such proves to 
be the case, I shall feel that my labors have not been in vain. It means 
further that this is the last possible opportunity of securing the data from 
authorized sources, and therefore this pamphlet can be placed among 
the historical relics of Madison with considerable satisfaction. 

FRED B. BARDON. 

Madison, N. J., November, 1910. 




MADISON ACADEMY 1809 



The Public Schools of Madison 



The first building in Madison used for school purposes was the" 
one known as the Birdsall House, now owned and occupied by Dr. 
Charles F. Snyder, on the corner of Green Village and King's roads. 
That was before the dawn of the last century. Subsequently a build- 
ing was erected opposite the old Roman Catholic Church on Ridgedale" 
avenue, and this was removed to the corner of Convent road and Elm 
street, and was later occupied by the late Christian Wise, and now 
owned by Simon Miller. From there it was removed to what was- 
known as the "Old Academy," a substantial brick structure, which . 
stood on the corner of Ridgedale and Park avenues for over half a. 
century as a monument to the efforts of a sturdy ancestry, who saw 
that the success and advancement of the nation depended upon the- 
education of the youth. Two generations have passed away since then; 
and have called them "Blessed." 

At a meeting held in Bottle Hill on January 1 0, 1 803, the Rev. 
Mr. Perrine, pastor of the Presbyterian Church, was chosen moderator 
and Mr. Lott Hamilton, clerk. The following are extracts from the 
minutes : 

"It was moved and unanimously carried in the affirmative, that, as 
there had been some difficulty heretofore in procuring wood for the 
school, the teacher for the future shall see that the school is furnished 
therewith; that he shall keep a fair account of the wood he receives* 
and at the expiration of each quarter, when wood has been wanting* 
he shall make up the whole of the expense, and shall collect it from each 
employer, in proportion to the number of scholars he may have sent. 
That this proportional expense, the teacher shall put into his bill with 
his schoolrate, and each employer shall consider himself equally bound ta 
pay one as the other. That each employer shall be at liberty to bring 
wood whenever the teacher shall say it is wanting, and that he shall 
receive credit for what is over his proportionment, which shall go to- 
wards paying the teacher for the tuition of his children, and should 
there still be a sulplufs shall be paid by the teacher. Should there be 
two or more persons desiring to bring wood, and should not the whole 
be wanting, the prefference shall be given to him, (or them,) who has 
not brought before; and guarding against all uneasiness respecting the 
price of wood, it shall be 20/. per cord for the present year. 

"It was also moved that, as it is inconvenient for the whole of the 
employers to meet from time to time, in order to consult upon the 



THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS of MADISON, NEW JERSEY 

necefsary regulations of the school, that there shall be six persons 
appointed for this purpose, who shall be invested with power, to ordain 
and establish such regulations, from time to time as shall appear to 
them to (\; proper; which persons shall be known by the name of the 
Directors of the School of Bottle Hill. After mature consideration 
the above was generally looked upon as a thing desireable. Ardently 
wishing that some such thing might take place, the school meeting feel 
disposed to act upon it, as far as they deem prudent for the present. 
But supposing the chief they can do at present is to appoint a committee 
to draw up a form of a constitution for the school of Bottle Hill and 
to lay the same before the employers for their consideration, therefor 
they do unanimously agree that, Ephriam Sayre, Benjamin Pierson, 
William Martin, Jonathan Bruen, Benjamin Thompson, Luke Miller, 
Samuel Muchmore, and the Rev'd. L. R. Perrine be a committee to 
m^et at Mr. Perrine's Monday evening, January 17, A. D. 1803, in 
order to form a constitution for the school of Bottle Hill and to lay it 
before the next school meeting. 

Adjourned." 
"Mr. Perrine's Monday January 1 7 A. D. 1803. 
"The committee met according to appointment. Present, Mefs'rs 

Ephriam Sayre, Benjamin Thompson, Luke Miller, Jonathan Bruen, 

Samuel Muchmore, ek L. R. Perrine. 

"In order to promote the conveniency of the employers, and secure 

the better regulations of the school, the committee cheerfully, and 

unanimously, agree to recommend to the employers the following to be a 

^constitution of the school of Bottle Hill. 

CONSTITUTION. 
ARTICLE I. 

Section 1 . There shall be six persons chosen, who shall transact 
the business of the school for us, and shall be invested with such powers, 
as herein specified. These persons shall be denominated the Directors 
of the School of Bottle Hill. 

Sec. 2. The Directors shall be chosen by a majority of the em- 
ployers present at a general school meeting and to remain during good 
behaviour, or capacity to act. When vacancies happen in consequence 
of resignation, removal, death or otherwise, a schoolmeeting shall be 
called in order to fill them up. Which shall be done in the manner 
above mentioned. 

Sec. 3. The Directors shall meet at Mr. Perrine's, Monday 1 4 
<of February and then upon their own adjournments. 

Sec. 4. They shall have a moderator whofe businefs shall be, 



THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS of MADISON, NEW JERSEY 

to state questions, preserve order, and give the casting vote in all 
equal divisions. 

Sec. 5. The directors shall keep a book of Records or minutes, 
and appoint a clerk, whofe businefs shall be, to enter therein, a fair 
statement of their transactions and resolutions, which book shall be laid 
before every general schoolmeeting, and shall be at the inspection of 
any employer whenever requested. But no one shall be at liberty to 
take it away from the dwelling where the Clerk resides. 

Sec. 6. No act of the Directors which is not recorded by them 
shall be considered valid. 

Sec. 7. They shall determine every question before them by a 
majority of votes. 

Sec. 8. 4 of the Directors shall constitute a quorum. 

ARTICLE II. 

Section 1 . The moderator shall call meetings of the Directors 
when he sees proper, and upon the request of any two of them. He 
shall call general schoolmeetings, whenever the Directors shall consider 
it necefsary. Or at the request of any six of the employers. 

Sec. 2. He shall be moderator of the general schoolmeetings 
if present. 

ARTICLE III. 

POWERS OF THE DIRECTORS. 

Section 1 . They shall have power to enquire into the conduct 
of their own members, and, upon finding any directly or indirectly 
endeavoring to disturb the tranquility of the school or weaken any of 
the laws or regulations of the same, they shall debar such an one from 
voting with them. And when any such thing takes place the Directors 
shall as soon as possible call a schoolmeeting and lay the charges 
before them, who shall act as they deem proper. 

Sec. 2. The Directors shall have power, to introduce a teacher 
and if occasion require, as afsistant teacher into the school, and shall 
have power to dismifs him or them if they consider it necefsary for 
the welfare of the school. 

Should any uneasinefs at any time arise among the employers 
respecting the teacher, and should not the Directors be agreed to dis- 
mifs him they shall call a schoolmeeting when their voice shall govern. 

Sec. 3. They shall have power from time to time to make such 
laws and regulations as may tend to the wholesome government of the 
school. And these laws and regulations shall be binding upon the 
scholars and the teacher or teachers. But should any of the laws be 
considered as unjust, and oppressive, a general schoolmeeting shall be 



THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS of MADISON, NEW JERSEY 

called, and they shall have power to repeal or establish them. 

Sec. 4. They shall have authority to enquire into the teacher's 
manner of correction should any complaints arise and use such meas- 
ures as they shall deem proper. Also authority to enquire into the 
conduct of the scholars, and should any complaint be entered b}' the 
teacher, respecting the obstinacy or perversenefs of any scholar, or 
scholars. The Directors shall consider themselves obligated to admon- 
ish him or them publicly before the school and their own body. And 
should this not produce the desired effect they shall have power to ex- 
clude such person or persons from the school. 

Sec. 5. They shall have the care and management of the school- 
house, and they shall see to the necefsary repairs of the same, and to 
defray the expenses we will allow ourselves to be taxed when necefsary, 
but not exceeding the sum of six cents, per quarter for each scholar. 
Should not there be sufficient a general schoolmeeting must be held. 
This money to be collected by the teacher when he collects his school 
rate and to stand accountable for it to the Directors. The Directors 
shall have a treasurer appointed who shall take care of the monies thus 
collected, keep a fair account of the same, and lay it before them 
annually for inspection. 

ARTICLE IV. 

No alteration shall be made in this constitution but with the 
confent of two thirds of the employers; and every alteration which 
takes place shall have been laid before a previous general school- 
meeting. 

ARTICLE V. 

The concurrence of two thirds of the employers shall be deemed 
sufficient to the adoption of this constitution. 

ARTICLE VI. 

The transactions of the schoolmeetings shall be kept in the same 
book, with the transactions of the Directors. 

ARTICLE VII. 

Every person who is not now an employer, and shall at any time 
hereafter become one, he shall be acquainted with the existence of this 
constitution, and the laws which the directors may make, and then his 
sending to the school shall be considered as his afsent to both." 



January 31 A. D. 1 803. A general school meeting was held at 
Bottle Hill, and it was unamimously agreed by those present that the 

1© 



THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS of MADISOiN, NEW JERSEY 

above shall be the constitution for the school of Bottle Mill. But as 
there are not two thirds of the employers present the schoolmeeting 
agreed to sign their names respectively, and when 2/3 of the employers 
sign it, the above shall be considered as established. 
There are 24 employers at present. 

L. R. Perrine Benj'n Thompson 

Ephriam Sayre David Howell 

Jonathan Bruen Luke Miller 

William Martin Daniel Thompson 

Archibald Sayre David Sayre 

Samuel Muchmore Aaron Burnet 

Flavel Woodruff David Foster 

William Butler Jonathan Thompson 

Calvin Howell William Brittin 

Eighteen of the employers having signed the above constitution 

and no opposition having been made by any, it is considered as duly 

established. 



RULES FOR THE REGULATION OF THE SCHOOL. 

1 . There shall be a public examination at the expiration of every 
quarter. 

2. The Teacher shall catechife the children at least once a week. 

3. That every schollar who is capable shall write a letter of his 
own composition at least once every week which shall be inspected and 
corrected by the teacher. 

4. Every scholar who is able shall read at least once each day 
in the Bible. (Minutes of the school, February 5, 1803.) 

"The directors considering it necefsary for the repairs of the 
schoolhouse do agree that each employer shall at the end of the quarter 
pay the sum of six cents for each and every schollar which he or she 

may send It is also agreed that two of the directors shall visit 

the school on every Monday in every month alternately." 



Little progress was made in school matters, until February 16th. 
1809, when a meeting of a number of the employers of the school at 
Bottle Hill was held at the house of Mr. John M. Meeker for the 
purpose of expressing their opinion in regard to building a hew school- 
house. Phineas Price was chairman and William Brittin, grandfather 
of Henry I. Brittin of this place, was clerk. It was resolved that 
William Brittin, Flavel Woodruff, and William Thompson be a com- 

11 



THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS of MADISON, NEW JERSEY 

mittee "To obtain a title for the land whereon Widow Sarah Cook's 
old shop stands, for the purpose of setting a new schoolhouse thereon." 

It was further resolved that "we build a new school house on 
the ground whereon the above shop now stands, if obtained, and that 
the dimensions of the house be as follows: thirty six feet long, twenty 
feet broad, the posts to be twenty feet long, with eighteen light windows, 
seven by nine glass." 

"Resolved, That Benjamin Pierson, Aaron Burnet, Daniel Sear- 
geant, Samuel Muchmore, Archibald Sayre, and John Meeker be a 
committee to conduct the building of the new school house. 

"Resolved, That the school meeting be adjourned till the next 
Tuesday evening at the above place at candle lighting, to hear the re- 
ports of the Committee as it respects the title of the land. 

March 4th, 1 809. 

"Agreeable to the above adjournment and due notice according to 
Law being given of the intention of this meeting, a Number of the 
employers of the School of Bottle Hill met at the house of John M. 
Meeker for the purpose of forming themselves into an afsosiation 
according to law of the State in such case made and provided & of 
expressing their oppinions on the utility of the Same. Benjamin Thomp- 
son was chosen Moderator and Ebenezer C. Pierson, Clk. and proceeded 
to pafs the following Resolves 

"Resolved, Unamimously that the employers of the School of 
Bottle Hill form themselves into an afsosiation and appoint Trustees 
according to Law of this State in such case to manage and conduct the 
buisnefs of this Society 

"Resolved, That the number of 1 rustees be Seven." 

They then proceeded to the choice of them when the following 

persons were elected, viz 

Benjamin Thompson, Ebenezer C. Pierson, Archibald Sayre, 

Aaron Burnet, Luke Miller, Flavel Woodruff, and John M. Meeker. 

"Resolved, That the employers of the Bottle Hill School take upon 
themselves and be known in the futer by the Name of Madison So- 
ciety 

"Resolved, That the Madison Academy now in contemplation to 
be built by this society be built of Brick — — 

"Resolved, That there be a Subscription Circulated; for the 
purpose of Building the Madison Academy and accordingly there was 
one drawn for circulation for the above purpose. 

Adjourned " 

12 



THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS of MADISON, NEW JERSEY 

Bottle Hill Eighth of January 1810. 

"Agreeable to due notice of a general Meeting of the Madison 
Academy Society at the House of John M. Meeker. Benjamin 
Thompson was chosen Moderator & Ebenezer C. Pierson CLK. 

"The object of this meeting was to fall upon some plan for the 
purpose of raising Money sufficient for to complete the Building of the 
Madison Academy 

"It was the unamimous oppinion of this meeting of the Society 
that it would be to their advantage to alter the Mode hitherto pursued 
& to adopt the following plan as their artickels of Afsociation 6c 
agreement. — 

ARTICKEL 1ST 

"All the property the Society now holds or may yet acquire Shall 
belong and be the property of the persons hereby Afsociating, their 
Heirs, Afsigns forever, as tenants in common, and in exact proportion 

to the Shares they respectively purchase and hold in the premises 

ARTICKEL 2ND. 

"The whole Stock of the said Society shall be divided into Shares 
to be transfered at the discretion of the holder only by his afsigning his 
Share or Shares in the Book of Transfers to be kept for that purpose, 
by the Trustees as the Law Directs * — 

ARTICKEL 3RD. 

"Each person Subscribing this Afsociation Shall affix to his name 
the number of Shares he intends to take and for each Share shall pay 
to the Trustees on demand Eight Dollars and on failure of payment 
on such demand shall thereafter pay the Lawfull Interest and both 
principle and interest may be recovered by action of debt to be prose- 
cuted by said Trustees with costs of Suit 

ARTICKEL 4TH. 

"In determining all questions except in choosing Trustees each 
Person shall be entitled to as many Votes as he holds Shares & may 
Vote by Proxy, such Proxy allways to be in writing 

ARTICKEL 5TH. 
"It shall be Lawfull and it is mutually agreed by the Associators 
that whenever a magority of them counting by shares shall think it 
unnefsary and improper to continue the School or to occupy the said 
Premises for the use of a School the said Trustees shall advertise and 
sell the said Property at Publick Vandew and divide the monies arising 
from such Sale among the Proprietors, in proportion to the Shares they 
respectively hold — — — In witnefs whereof we have hereto 
Affixed our names and the number of Shares we agree to Subscribe 

13 



THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS of MADISON, NEW JERSEY 

and for which we engage to pay to the Trustees for the purpose aforesaid 
Eight Dollars for each Share Affixed to our names &c — &c — &c — 



The school building constructed was of brick, two stories high; 
its entrance at first being on Convent Road but afterwards opened on 
Ridgedale Avenue. A slab of white marble adorned the front wall, 
on which was inscribed "MADISON ACADEMY, 1809" and this 
is now on exhibition here this evening. There was a slab of brown 
stone on the side bearing a similar inscription. From the roof rose a 
small bell tower, on the end of which glittered a gilt ball. In 1853 a 
square cupola was substituted for the old spire, a new roof, a cornice on 
the side, and some interior improvements were made. 

It was in this building in 1 834 that the good people of Madison 
met to change the name of the village. A large crowd gathered, for 
Col. Stephen D. Hunting and William Sayre wished to retain the old 
name of Bottle Hill, while Matthias L. Burnet, grandfather of James 
E. Burnett, a strong temperance man, earnestly urged a change. Some 
suggested calling the village Madison, and some Columbia. The vote 
of Mr. Burnett decided the matter, and from that time the official title 
of Madison has been fixed. 

"Madison, April 2 1853. 
"Agreeable to appointment the citizens of District No. 3 met at 
the Academy and appointed Rev. H. Trumbower Chairman and Geo. 
E. Sayre secretary. Dr. H. P. Green was elected Trustee for 3 years, 
W. H. Sayre elected for 2 years. 

Meeting Adj. 
Geo. E. Sayre, Secretary." 



"1854. 

"At a meeting of the taxable inhabitants of school district No. 3 
of the township .of Chatham, at Madison Academy, April 3, 1854, 
agreeably to previous public notice, H. P. Green was appointed Mod- 
erator, and Geo. E. Sayre Secretary. 

The time for which George E. Sayre was elected a Trustee for 
said district having expired, Samuel D. Burnet was elected a Trustee 
for three years. Adjourned. 

H. P. Green, Moderator." 



"Madison, Apr. 2nd, 1855. 
"At a meeting of the taxable inhabitants of school district No. 3 
of the township of Chatham at Madison Academy Apr 2nd 1855 



14 



THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS of MADISON, NEW JERSEY 

agreeably to previous public notice. H. P. Green was appointed 
Moderator and George N. Packer Secretary. The time for which 
W. H. Sayre was elected trustee for said district having expired, he was 
again elected trustee for three years. 

H. P. Green, Moderator." 



"Madison Apr. 7th 1857. 

"At a meeting of the taxable inhabitants, of school district No. 3 
of the township of Chatham at Madison Academy xA^pr. 7, 1857 
agreeably to previous public notice, Isaac B. Lee was appointed Mod- 
erator, and Geo. E. Sayre Secretary. 

The time for which Samuel D. Burnet, was elected trustee for 
said district having expired, Geo. E. Sayre was elected for three years 
from date. 

Amza A. Ward having removed out of the District, Charles A. 
Bruen was elected, to fill the vacancy, of 2 years. James Albright 
having removed out of the district, Charles C. Force was elected, to fill 
the unexpired term of 1 year. 

Report of the teacher, D. S. Evans, read and accepted. 

Adj. Geo. E. Sayre, Secretary." 



"Madison Apr 1858. 

"At a meeting of the taxable inhabitants of school district No. 3 
of the township of Chatham at Madison Academy April 1858 
agreeable to previous public notice, Isaac B. Lee was chosen Mod- 
erator, and S. D. Burnet, Secretary. 

Report of the Trustees was read and accepted. The time for 
which C. C. Force was elected trustee for said district having expired 
he was again elected for 3 years. C. H. Bruen having resigned, S. D. 
Burnet was elected to fill the vacancy and serve his unexpired term of 1 
year. 

S. D. Burnet, Secretary." 



"Madison April 6th 1 859. 

"At a meeting of the taxable inhabitants of the school district No. 
3 of the Township of Chatham at the Madison Academy Apr 4th, 
1859 agreeable to previous publick notice Isaac B. Lee was chosen 
Moderator and S. D. Burnet Secretary. 

The report of the last meeting was read and adopted. 

The report of the Teacher and Trustees was read, accepted, and 
-ordered on file. 

The time for which S. D. Burnet was elected trustee having ex- 
pired, he was reelected for the term of three years. 

S. D. Burnet, Secretary." 

15 



THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS of MADISON, NEW JERSEY 

"Madison April 2nd 1860. 

"At a meeting of the taxable inhabitants of school district No. 3 
of the township of Chatham at Madison Academy April 2nd 1860 
agreeable to previous public notice, G. D. Allen was chosen Moderator 
and S. D. Burnet, Secretary. 

Report of the Teacher and Trustees was read and accepted. 

The time for which G. E. Sayre was elected trustee having ex- 
pired he was re elected for the term of three years. 

S. D. Burnet, Secretary." 



"Madison Apr. 1861. 

"At a meeting held at the home of Mr. Chas. C. Force, April 
1 86 1 , C. C. Force was elected trustee for three years of District School 
No. 3 Chatham township. S. D. Burnet, Secretary." 



"Madison, Apr. 1862. 

"At a meeting of the taxable inhabitants of school district No. 3 
of Chatham township at Madison Academy, Apr. 1 862 agreeable 
to previous public notice S. K. Ward was chosen Moderator and S. D. 
Burnet clerk. 

The time for which S. D. Burnet was elected having expired he 
was re elected for the term of three years. 

Resolved, That the Trustees take measures to have this school 
district incorporated and that its corporate name be Madison. 

Adjourned. 

S. D. Burnet, Secretary. 



"Madison, April 6th, 1863. 

"At a meeting of the taxable inhabitants of the school district No. 
3 of the township of Chatham at Madison Academy Apr. 6th, accord- 
ing to previous public notice Mr. Berry was chosen Moderator G. E. 
Sayre clerk. 

The report of trustees was read and approved. 

The trustees reported that they had succeeded in having this 
District Incorporated. 

The time for which G. E. Sayre was elected trustee having ex- 
pired he was again elected for three years. 

Adjourned. S. D. Burnet, Secretary." 



"Madison, April 4th, 1864. 
"At a meeting of the taxable inhabitants of School District No. 3 

16 



THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS of MADISON, NEW JERSEY 

of the township of Chatham at Madison Academy this day — according, 
to public notice. 

Mr. Alfred B. Brittin was chosen Moderator and James A. Webb> 
Clerk. 

Minutes of the last meeting were read and approved. The report 
of the trustees was read and accepted, Chas. C. Force was re-elected! 
for the term of three (3) years. Mahloii M. Miller was elected to? 
fill the unexpired term of Geo. E. Sayre resigned. 

Adjourned. 

James A. Webb, 

Clerk. 



"Madison, N. J., April 3, 1865. 

"At a meeting of the taxable inhabitants of school district No. 3 
of the Township of Chatham at Madison Academy vhis day according 
to public notice. 

Mr. Jeremiah Baker was chosen Moderator and James A* 
Webb clerk. 

Minutes last meeting were read and adopted. 
Trustees annual report was read and accepted. 
Stephen N. Ward was elected trustee for the term of three (3) 
years. 

Mathias L. Burnet was elected Trustee (for one year) to fill 
the unexpired term of Geo. E. Sayre, resigned. 

Adjourned. 

James A. Webb, 

ClerL. 




17 




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THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS of MADISON, NEW JERSEY 

Little transpired in school matters other than the usual routihw 
business for many years. Gradually the population of the town in- 
creased, and during the winter months the building was crowded, and 
the teachers, there being but two, found it difficult to conduct the classes 
as they should be, and unsatisfactory work resulted. When the late 
Wilbur F. Morrow took charge, in 1878, he induced his many friends 
to co-operate with him in advocating a more commodious building and 
grounds, and a public meeting was called on Wednesday evening, 
August 28, 1878, to consider the needs of a new school, and E. V. 
Thebaud and Jeremiah Baker, a committee which acted in conjunction 
with the board of trustees, who were W. W. Beach, A. C. Rathbun 
and C. C. Force, recommended that grounds be procured and that a 
new building be erected, the former not to exceed $3,250, and the 
building $10,000, possibly not over $8,000, and that the district be 
bonded for the same. The vote was 1 24 for the proposition and 78 
against. James A. Webb presided at the meeting. Of those who took 
part in the proceedings, only James A. Webb and William H. Byram 
are alive. The three trustees ; Mr. Thebaud and Jeremiah Baker, 
advisory committee; James C. Holden, John McTernan, Mr. C. 1 . B = 
Keep, who made addresses; James H. Baker and James H. Dunn, 
two of the tellers, are dead, as are also all of the contractors of the 
work, except Charles E. Cook and James R. Quinne. George Chap- 
man and Gen. E. E. Potter, who succeeded to the board; G. W„ 
Bower, the architect, and W. F. Morrow, through whose efforts the 
building was erected, are also dead. 

A subsequent meeting was held Monday evening, November 25, 
1878, at which time A. C. Rathbun, for the Board of Education, re- 
ported that it would be necessary to ask for $18,600 to purchase the 
property and erect a new building according to the plans submitted by 
the architect. It was voted upon motion of James H. Dunn that 
$1 7,350 be set apart for the erection of the new building, which with 
the lot made the entire cost $20,600. Jeremiah Baker, E. V. The- 
baud, James A. Webb, E. E. Potter and James H. Dunn were 
named as an advisory committee to act with the board. 

The laying of the cornerstone of the new building on Greene 
avenue occurred on Thursday, April 24, 1879, with Mr. W. F. Mor- 
row, the principal of the old school, in charge. After an address by 
him, with a brief history of the proceedings of the meeting held to vote 
the appropriation for the new structure, he deposited the following 
articles in the box, which was then placed in the cornerstone, which 
was 2 feet by 7J4 inches, the galvanized box itself being 6 J/2 by 16 
inches. The inscription, the "Madison Public School, District N"». 81, 
1879," was cut out by Cummings & Duffy, of Morristown. The box 

19 



THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS of MADISON, NEW JERSEY 

was made by Day, Searing ck Co., of Madison, and the setting of it by 
George A. Purvis, George Cole, Fred Hennis and William H. Beers, 
who were in their employ. 

The articles enclosed were the State Superintendent's report of 
Public Schools, 1878. Copy of the Madison Journal containing re- 
ports of school meetings by L. H. Abbey, publisher; copy of True 
Democratic Banner, Mornstown, containing a description of the school 
and elevation by George W. Bower. Copy of the Jerseyman, Morns- 
town, by W. F. Morrow; copy of the Mornstown Chronicle, contain- 
ing a description of the school by W. W. Beach; State Gazette, Tren- 
ton, N. J. ; Eye-Opener, first copy, 1877, by Fred B. Bardon; Madison 
Journal of October 27, 1877, containing an account of the recent fire 
and edited by McCarthy & Bardon, by Fred B. Bardon. Constitution 
and by laws of the Madison Improvement Society. List of the town 
officers. Names of the Trustees, of the Building Committee and 
Contractors, architect, teachers of the school and names of the 
scholars by W. F. Morrow. A brief history of the school building 
and the proceedings pertaining thereto. Report of the Board of Trus- 
tees. Report of the Normal School, 1878. Several business cards. 
Card of George W. Bower, the architect. Gee's circular of the reduc- 
tion of prices in drugs. A five cent silver coin, F. J. Harman; ten cent- 
silver coin, John T. Burrell; a copper cent, 1879, W. F. Morrow; a 
large copper cent, 1830, A. J. Harman; an ice cream box, F. J. Har- 
man; Dover Iron Era; two copies Morristown Banner; three copies of 
the Chronicle, Morristown; Dover Index of this issue, J. H. Dunn. 

Five years after the occupancy of the new building the old brick 
structure, on the corner of Ridgedale and Park avenues, was burned — 
the work of an incendiary. Two previous attempts had been made t/» 
destroy this old landmark, but they failed. On the evening of the firs' 
of December, 1 886, the alarm of fire was sounded, and it was found 
to be in the "Old Academy." The work had been so well done that 
it was impossible to prevent its total destruction, and nothing remains of 
^hat memorable and historic structure but a kindly memory, the front 
stone, and t^* 1 old bell which summoned the pupils to school. It was 
used for fire purposes for some years and is now in the fire house, care- 
fully guarded and treasured for the good service it had rendered. 

It became apparent that additional room was needed to accom- 
modate the increased school population of Madison, and a proposition 
to bond the district for $30,000 was brought before the voters on 
January 20, 1 896, but a motion to adjourn to February 3 was carried 
and a substitute offered by the late Chas. Hayes, making the amount 
$12,000 was carried, but nothing was done in the matter until January 
25, 1897, when another meeting was called in Fagan's Hall, and the 

20 



THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS of MADISON, NEW JERSEY 



Board of Education asked for $15,000 to erect a new building, and it 
was approved by a vote of 11 to 50. The bonds were issued at five 
per cent, interest, two to be retired in 1917 and two each year there- 
after until the entire issue be paid. The newer building was erected 
during the summer of 1897, and was built by the late Daniel Burns. 

When this building was erected it was thought it would answer 
the school needs of the borough for years to come. It contained an 
assembly room capable of seating over three hundred persons, but the 
other rooms became so overcrowded in four years that it became neces- 
sary to make this into two class rooms, besides using another room on 
the third story. Even then the Board of Education found it impossible 
to meet the needs of the school children, and in September, 1906, the 
Mulford building, a private residence opposite the school, was rented 
and was used for four years. But this building was poorly adapted 
to this use, and at all times in the winter it was impossible to heat it 
comfortably, and the ventilation was very unsatisfactory, so that it be- 
came absolutely necessary to furnish suitable quarters for those inade- 
quately housed without further delay. At meeting after meeting 
different features were discussed with the view of adding to the 
present buildings at a little cost, but fortunately a broader view was 
finally agreed upon, and the Board of Education, after the election in 
March, 1 909, brought the question of a new building before the tax- 
payers of the borough. 

After a thorough inspection of locations desirable, four of the five 
members of the Board, viz., Messrs. Megargel, Van Etten, Scarborough 
and Bardon, recommended the purchase of the Miller and Felch prop- 
erties, adjoining the present schools on Kings road, and the erection of 
a building thereon, plans and specifications for which had been pre- 
pared by H. King Conklin, the architect. This site was brought before 
the people on June 1 7, 1909, and defeated by a vote of 223 to 477. 
The Board then decided to place three sites before the people, viz., the 
Apgar property on Green Village road; the Brittin plot on Central 
avenue, and this latter together with the Webb plot back of it. A 
vote was taken on these propositions on July 1 4, and none of them re- 
ceived a majority. The first proposition received 73 votes, the second 
198, and the third 244. Again the Board brought the matter before 
the people, submitting the last two propositions. This election was held 
on July 29, 1909, and the Brittin property had 339 votes, while the 
double site had 232 votes. Steps were then immediately taken to pre- 
pare the necessary bonds, to dispose of them, and to secure bids for the 
construction of the building. After considerable thought and effort the 
bonds, amounting to $58,000, were floated at four per cent, interest. 
The contracts were awarded on Wednesday evening, October 5, as 

21 



THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS of MADISON, NEW JERSEY 

follows : Corbett & Clark, for all the work but the heating and ventilat- 
ing, for the sum of $45,325, and the heating and ventilating to the 
American Heating and Ventilating Company, of Philadelphia, for 
$3,376. The land was purchased for $6,633, and is 368J/2 feet on 
Central avenue and 3 1 7 feet on Walnut street. 

On Monday, September 29, 1 890, at half-past one o'clock, the 
first shovelful of earth was removed from the spot which now marks the 
well at the pumping station. The shovel used on that occasion was 
again used in removing the first shovelful of earth for the foundation of 
the new school building on Central avenue on Saturday, October 8, 
1909, at half-past two o'clock. It was then presented to the junior 
lodge of American Mechanics, of this place, and after being gilded and 
trimmed with American flags was placed among the relics in their meet- 
ing rooms on Main street. 

(On Labor Day afternoon, Monday, September 5, 1910, this 
same shovel was used by Mayor George W. Downs in removing the first 
shovelful of earth for Madison's sewer system.) 

Work was pushed upon the new building until late in the fall, and 
was only suspended by severe frosts. Early in the spring of 1910 work 
was again resumed, and on Monday, September 5, 1910, the building 
was finished and opened for public inspection, and the following morn- 
ing at nine o'clock the usual school routine was commenced in the new 
building, of which our people are justly proud. 

A careful examination of the minutes of the meetings of the 
Boards of Education from 1 803 to the present time shows that the 
following principals have been employed in the schools : 

SCHOOL PRINCIPALS. 

1 803 Lott Hamilton. 

1 803 August 24, Lott Hamilton and sister as assistant. 

1 804 Elias Howell. 

1805 Mr. Doherty. 

1 806 January, Mr. Barthelmaupe. 

1 806 April, Barnabas Bruen. 

1 807 March, Samuel Stevens. 

1815 Lott Hamilton and Obadiah Crane. 

1815 Mr. Woodward. 

1816 Mr. Phillip. 

1 828 Mr. Harrison and Mr. Ganger. 

1828 June, Rev. H. M. Perrine. 

1 835 Horace Sheldon. 

1836 Wm. L. Perrine. 
1839 T. B. Weed. 

22 




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03 



THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS of MADISON, NEW JERSEY 



1 844 Asa Burns. 

1845 A. C. Pierce. 

1 845 April, Permenas B. Strong. 

1846 Mr. Bridgeman. 

1846 October 20, Sidney Turner. 

1846 October 31, B. P. Strong. 

1 849 Dr. Lowery and Miss Ruth Dill. 

1849 Dr. Lowery and Mr. Holliday. 

1852 Mr. and Mrs. Packard. 

3856 Mr. and Mrs. D. S. Evans. 

1 865 Mr. Lavalle and Jennie Sayre. 

1867 W. F. Morrow and Miss Mattie Grannus. 

Denie Lum and Fannie Powers. 
1871 Mr. and Mrs. D. S. Evans. 

1 876-7 Mrs. Evans, Miss Darrow, Mary and Sarah Dehart. 
1878-80 W. F. Morrow, Laura E. Searing, Anna Armstrong. 
1880-81 A..C. Harris. 
1 882 P. G. Wyckoff. 

1883-89 S. C. Wheat. 
1889-91 T. J. Bissell. 
1891 December 23, H. I. Tyron. 

1892-1 900 W. B. Mathews. 
1900-02 L. A. Beardsley. 
1902-04 A. F. Stauffer (February 24). 
1904 Marcellus Oakey. 



There seems to be no question that in 1 825 John F. Derthick was 
one of the teachers at the public school and compiled the verses repeated 
by the thirteen young ladies at the time of La Fayette's visit to Madison, 
but there is no allusion to the employment of such a teacher in the 
minute-book covering that period. 

Dr. Louis A. Sayre, in sending his regrets to Chas. C. Force at 
the time of one of his dinners to the "Old Boys' Club of Bottle Hill," 
in 1897, said in part: "I send you a biographical sketch of myself 
with a likeness that was said to be good at the time it was taken. The 
poem of welcome to Gen. La Fayette by old John Derthick, the boys 
will all remember my delivery in front of Matt. Burnett's, under the 
poplar trees. I wish I could be with you. God bless you all. 

LOUIS A. SAYRE." 

In several other cases writers have referred to this gentleman 
being the composer of the verses and a teacher at the time at the "Old 
Academy," so that we must conclude the minutes were not as complete 
as they should have been in this particular. 

26 



THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS of MADISON, NEW JERSEY 
THE OLD ACADEMY 

(Editorial by Fred B. Bardon in the Madison Eagle, December 10, 

1886, Vol. V, No. 7.) 

"The citizens of Madison have always shown a very deep interest 
in the cause of education, and even to the present day every facility is 
afforded the youth to prepare for the exigencies of manhood. So many 
young men are growing up without even an ordinary education that the 
demand for men of ability is such that they are constantly sought for and 
employed. In the majority of cases a young man's future prosperity is 
assured if he is educated. It is something no one can steal or take away, 
and never goes begging for employment. 

"At the opening of the nineteenth century Madison was sparsely 
populated, scarcely a dozen families living within its limits. The public 
school was then situated in the building now occupied by Simon Miller, 
on the Convent road. Mr. James Burnet, who then owned the late 
Caleb Sniffen property, now occupied by Mr. E. D. McConnell, and 
a considerable portion of the land directly opposite, both on the Con- 
vent and Afton roads, offered to contribute the present site of the old 
building, provided that a schoolhouse should be erected and used for 
school purposes. It was considered a noble gift, but the inability of the 
citizens to erect the building at that time prevented an acceptance of the 
offer. About five years later, however, the number of scholars had sa 
largely increased that it was found necessary to procure other quarters. 
The citizens decided to erect the building by contributions, or in other 
words, taking stock in the intended structure at eight dollars per share. 

"In this way the building was erected, and in those days it was 
considered a very elaborate one. The material used in its construction,, 
while more crude in form, was far more lasting than that of the present 
day. Those who witnessed the fire on the 1 st inst. undoubtedly noticed 
the tenacity with which the floor beams clung to their bearings, even 
when the last splinter seemed to have burned away. The walls being 
of brick, are as staunch to-day as in 1 809, the heat failing to penetrate 
through the masonry. To commemorate the completion of the building- 
a plain marble slab with the inscription, 'Madison Academy, 1 809,' was 
placed in the wall on the south side of the building. To-day it still 
remains intact, and recalls the ending of the auspicious labors com- 
menced seventy-six years ago. We believe that there is no person living 
in Madison who took part in this work, and consequently our informa- 
tion must come from the next of kin to whom the facts were given. 

"The present entrance to the building was made some twenty 
years ago, being found advantageous in various ways. The old doorway 

27 



THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS of MADISON, NEW JERSEY 

faced the Sniffen house, on the west side, which can be readily detected 
by an examination of the wall. At the same time other changes were 
effected. The stairway leading to the upper story of the building was 
made in the form of the letter S, while the room was enlarged by adding 
the belfry tower, which was occupied by the teacher and contained the 
blackboards. The cupola, which was formerly about thirty feet high, 
was taken down on account of its unsafe condition, and the bell tower 
placed in its stead. At the extreme top of the cupola a weather vane 
was placed and a gilt ball, about the size of a peck measure, was sus- 
pended beneath it. It is claimed upon good authority that the ball was 
placed in position by D. L. Miller by scaling the cupola. The rest of 
the building proper remained the same as at. the time of the erection. 
The bell was taken from the tower three years ago and placed upon the 
truck house, being used as a fire alarm. This will be treasured as the 
only relic of value which formed a part of the Old Academy. It rang 
the death knell of his old home for years, with far more vigor than it 
did the hours of opening and closing school — a duty for which it was 
purchased. 

"The bell tower of the building was one of the resorts of the boys 
who desired to cool off during the heat of summer, and it had names 
and initials cut upon every available beam and piece of wood. The 
chirography being of the crudest form, it was impossible, in many in- 
stances, to interpret their meaning, but in a number of cases the names 
of many of our citizens could be deciphered. One name in particular, 
that of the principal, J. T. Derthick, was very plain, and probably the 
work of one of our citizens now passing the three score mile post. 

"The upper room of the building was also used in olden times as 
the place for holding the usual Tuesday evening prayer meetings, thus 
instituting Christian worship, which has been carried down to the present 
day. The room was also used for meetings of the debating society, 
which in those times was considered one of the chief means of passing 
away leisure hours, and the late Matthais L. Burnet, who was noted for 
his independence and knowledge of parliamentary law, was always the 
presiding officer. Questions of great moment were here discussed, those 
treating on Bibliography, Philology, Philosophy, and Heterodoxy, be- 
ing of frequent occurrence. 

"There are many other interesting incidents connected with the 
Old Academy which we will be able to present in a future issue." 



28 



THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS of MADISON, NEW JERSEY 
TEACHERS OF THE OLD ACADEMY 

(Editorial by Fred B. Bardon in the Madison Eagle, January 21,. 

1887. Vol. V, No. 13.) 

"From the erection of the Academy upon the ground given by 
Mr. James Burnet, 1809 to 1881, the following names of teachers 
are gathered in their chronological order, as nearly as possible, from 
the memory of the people now living, who attended school there in 
their youth. 

"The first teacher, Mr. Perrir.e, supposed to have been a relative 
of the Rev. Matthew La Rue Perrine (who was at that time, and 
until 1811, pastor of the only church here, located in the cemetery), of 
whom it is said 'never had any children of his own, but that he adopted 
and educated some six or eight of his nephews,' some of whom have 
brought distinction both upon themselves and upon him, as teachers 
and ministers of the Gospel. 

"The next teacher was Ezra Fairchild, 1812, after whom came 
Ichabod Burnet, nephew of James Burnet; then Miss Eliza and Anna. 
Bonsall ; Obadiah Crane while teacher was a terror to all ill-behaved 
boys ; then came the gentle Lucius Darling, 1 822 ; afterward Dr. 
Henry P. Green came and taught in the Academy, during which time 
he studied medicine with Dr. Bishop; he also taught at Union Hill; 
after Dr. Bishop's death he took his practice in the village. 

"David B. Crane, nephew of Obadiah, taught in the upper room 
of the Old Academy, while Julius T. Derthick had the lower room, 
who trained the 'Thirteen young ladies, representing the thirteen orig- 
inal States, to give an address of welcome to General Lafayette, 
August 15, 1825.' The poem was written by their teacher, J. T. 
Derthick. 

"In 1826, 1827 and 1828, Harrison and Granger, two theo- 
logical students in need of means to enter the Theological Seminary 
in New York, therefore took the school, boarded with the late John G. 
Bergen, at the same time improved the wayside opportunity of study 
with the reverend pastor. In after years the names of Rev. Harrison 
and Granger were mentioned frequently as earnest workmen in the 
Master's vineyard. 1829-30 Leverette B. Norris and sister were 
here as teachers, and in May, 1831, Ezra Halsey took the school, but 
ill health forced him to relinquish the undertaking. He withdrew, went 
to Mexico in the hope of re-establishing his health, came home and 
died during the first vacation. Early in 1832 Charles F. Hardy, a 
classical scholar, came. He became insane under religious excite- 
ment during a revival, in 1 833, conducted by the pastor, Rev. Clifford 

29 



THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS of MADISON, NEW JERSEY 

Arms, assisted by the Revs. Peter and George Kanouse. One day 
during the meetings Mr. Hardy took an inventory of all his movable 
and personal property, and his house and lot, which he offered for 
sale, so as to give two-thirds of the proceeds to the church, retaining 
only one part for himself and family. Of course this offer was not 
accepted, as it very soon became apparent that his mind was unhinged, 
and he was taken away by his relatives. A favorite motto of his in 
the school was: 

'May I govern my passion with absolute sway, 
And grow wiser and better as life wears away.' 
and yet a greater child of impulse never lived than was this same 
Hardy. 

"In the year 1 834 Horace Sheldon and T. B. Weed were 
teachers; then William and Caroline Perrine to 1839. Dr. Perrine 
is now quite a celebrated medical doctor in Brooklyn. 1840-41 Rev. 
Mr. White and Miss Julia St. John had the school; in 1841 Miss St. 
John removed south to take charge of a young ladies' seminary, and 
her sister, Henrietta, filled her place as teacher. In 1 842 Dr. Henry 
Fish (the celebrated Baptist divine, of Newark), and Miss Clara 
Jones came; 1844, Mr. Strong and Miss Merriman; they were fol- 
lowed by Rev. Nathaniel Pierce and brother. In 1 849 Dr. Lowry 
and Miss Ruth Dill. Miss Dill remained only a short time and went 
to Holyoke Seminary, and Mr. Halliday took her place in the school; 
Mr. and Mrs. Packhard came in 1852. November, 1856, Mr. and 
Mrs. D. S. Evans came and remained very successful teachers for 
•eight and a half years, to the spring of 1 865 ; during this time, while 
Mr. Evans was sick, Mrs. Augusta Greene (daughter of Dr. H. P. 
Greene) taught one quarter with Miss Bagshaw as her assistant. 
A change of climate seemed necessary for Mr. Evans, and for two 
years he travelled in search of health. 

"Next came Mr. Lavalle, who engaged Miss Jennie Sayre for one 
year, when Miss Lavalle took her place as assistant for her brother. 
In 1867 Mr. Wilbur F. Morrow was installed principal, with Miss 
Mattie Grannis and Denie Lum assistants. Mrs. Bancroft also was 
teacher with Miss Fannie Powers about this time, as Mr. Morrow was 
chosen principal at the Academy at Rutherford Park, 1870. April, 
1871, Mr. and Mrs. D. S. Evans returned to the school for seven 
years more, till April, 1878, making a total of fifteen and a half 
years, the longest term of years by far made by any teachers since the 
old Academy was built. Miss Jennie Owen taught as assistant to Mr. 
Evans from the spring of 1875 to the summer of 1876; 1876-7, Mrs. 
Sarah DeHart continued the school, during which time Mr. Evans 
Evans with the assistance of her sister; Miss Darrow, Miss Mary and 

30 



THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS of MADISON, NEW JERSEY 

was disabled by sickness from taking any part of the duty as principal. 

"April, 1878, the school again passed into the hands of Mr. 
Morrow, who with the assistance of Miss Laura E. Searing, and Miss 
Anna Armstrong, continued principals until the present new building 
was finished in 1 88 1 , when the Old Academy was left 'Alone in its 
glory,' having done good service in the village for 12 years.. If the 
old walls could speak they could tell us some stories stranger than 
fiction. They have seen the days when there were no stoves or fur- 
naces, no steam heat, only large wood fires, roasting on one side 
while freezing on the other; no light but tallow dips, no telegraph, no 
telephone, no railroad, only a stage coach to New York at four times 
the cost, and ten times the discomfort of the cars; no mail, and later 
on, one mail a day; and last, but not least, no newspaper in Madison. 
Let us be devoutfully thankful for the much better modern days which 
we are now enjoying. 

"Twenty-five ladies, seven ministers, six doctors, and fourteen 
laymen comprise the total number of teachers in the Old Academy 
■during the 12 years." 



"OLD BOYS" 



(Editorial from the Madison Eagle, August 20, 1886, Vol. IV, No. 

43, by Fred B. Bardon.) 

Among the many good men who have trained the young in what 
Dominie Sampson calls "the humanities," the memory of Master 
Derthick, who taught in Madison and its vicinity, is kept green by those 
he educated; and a few of those who had trembled beneath his frown, 
and quivered under his ferule, assembled at the Mansion Houes, Mor- 
ristown, on Tuesday last, to dine, and live over again their schoolboy 
days, and recall the happy time which can never come again, yet still 
lives in recollection. 

The oldest of the seventeen old boys who were as chipper as 
sparrows, who were present at the dinner, was David Pierson, of 
Chatham, born in 1 806, the youngest, B. Warren Burnett, of Madi- 
son, born in 1824, and born between those years hovered William J. 
Brittin, Dr. Lewis A. Sayre, Dr. John L. Munn, Flavel W. Day, 

Henry P. Day, Elijah D. Burnett, William T. Budd, Henry R. 

Burnett, E. Nelson Sampson, Charles C. Force, Frank S. Freeman, 

Pierson A. Freeman, J. Frank Burnett, Arthur N. Bonnel and Hudson 

M in ton. 

There is nothing like a good dinner to promote good fellowship, 

31 



THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS of MADISON, NEW JERSEY 

and before the cloth had been removed the friendships of youth had 
been renewed and the memories of old days recalled. When, how- 
ever, all were satisfied, and the cloth removed, William J. Brittin, who 
presided, and being a modest man and not having availed himself of 
Master Derthick's instruction in elocution, called upon Pierson A. 
Freeman to state the purpose of the meeting. Pierce, who in his youth 
bossed the boys, said Louis Albert, as he called him, would address 
them, and then the Doctor did so ; paying in the first place a tribute 
to their old teacher, tracing the career of many of their boyhood com- 
panions and rejoicing that at this late period of their life so many were 
permitted to meet together. 

Dr. John L. Munn spoke a few words about old times and the 
pleasures of recollection, while B. Warren Burnett amused his friends 
by his amusing anecdotes ; he thought, however, the Chairman ought to 
contribute to the entertainment of the boys, and in response Jackson, 
as the "boys" called him, told about an engagement one Stephen 
Miller had with a hog. Then Henry R. Burnett said, like Master 
Derthick, he disliked the use of the singular pronoun, and would not 
say that he alone had spent a pleasant day, but that all had done so. 
This was the opinion of all the guests, who departed trusting none of 
their number would be found missing at their next meeting. 



a 



ANOTHER LANDMARK GONE" 



(Editorial from the Madison Eagle, December 3, 1886. Vol. V,. 
No. 6, by Fred B. Bardon.) 

"At half-past two Wednesday morning an alarm of fire was 
sounded, and the truck, manned by robust firemen, hurried to the old 
public school building, which was found to be a mass of flames and 
beyond control. Work was directed to the neighboring buildings, but 
luckily none were damaged, although a strong wind was blowing. The 
effort to burn the building on Sunday proved unsuccessful, but the 
attempt Wednesday morning was more thoroughly conducted, and now 
but the four walls of the building stand as a monument to its devoted- 
ness to the cause of education. In 1 809 the building was erected and 
dedicated. We believe with the death of Mr. Matthias Burnet the 
last of the founders of the institution has passed away. Frequently 
before his death did he relate the manner in which it was erected, and 
although but a youth, he did considerable towards its construction. 
Mr. D. S. Evans and wife, residents of this place, taught many years 

32 



THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS of MADISON, NEW JERSEY 

in the institution, as did also Mr. Wilbur F. Morrow, and by their 
efforts the cause of education in Madison was placed upon a level 
with institutions far more pretentious in construction and educational, 
facilities. Many of our townsmen owe their superior business tact and; 
ability to the wisdom imparted within the compass of these four walls,, 
which mark an epoch of history to be treasured until the last one 
whose pleasure it was to be classed as a student of this noble institution- 
shall have passed away. 

In 1879 the building was vacated for more elaborate and health- 
ful quarters in the center of the village, and had been used by the 
members of the A. M. E. Church until their church was ready for 
occupancy. Since then it has been vacant, and with all the windows 
broken it presented a sad and mournful look — a striking contrast to the 
time when scores of active pupils were in attendance engaged in the 
pursuits common with youth, while within the building each scholar 
was vieing with the other in solving difficult problems, or engaged in 
exhibiting a recalcitrancy to the evolutionary syntactic problems, or 
lastly in algebraic conundrums and geographical explorations." 



"THE OLD ACADEMY" 

(From the Madison Eagle, April 22, 1887, by a Correspondent.) 
'An act authorizing the inhabitants of townships to erect buildings 
for township purposes' was passed and approved March, 1 886, and- 
was published in full in the Eagle February 1 8th, before the late 
election, giving the people ample time to think and vote on the measure 
March 8th, which was not done. Therefore, the ruins of the Old 
Academy must remain as they are, until the next annual town meeting, 
according to law; proving the proverb, 'Procrastination is the thief 
of time.' 

"A Town Hall is very much needed in this growing community, 
at this very time, to be used for Town Committee meetings; for the 
meetings of the Commissioners of Appeal ; for a depository for the 
town books and papers ; for a place of temporary confinement of 
criminals and disorderly persons, and also for one of the polling places 
of the township. It cannot be a pleasant or convenient duty, on a 
dark rainy night, to be obliged to drive four miles to a secure place, for 
an outlaw; moreover, the mere fact that such a place is within reach 
of the police would undoubtedly serve to intimidate many, who now 
make the night odious around the station with their drunken profanity 
and howling. 

"Now, we have the lot, and the brick of the walls of the Old 

33 



THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS of MADISON, NEW JERSEY 

Academy, to begin the Town Hall with. The location is high and 
central (as from actual measurement a few years since the Presby- 
terian lecture room is the centre of the circle of population). The 
only heirs living have expressed their willingness to appropriate the 
ground for some public benefit, and not for individual purposes. Why 
not take off the rubbish, pile up the good brick, set out trees and 
convert it into a small park, 'till such time when the people shall deem 
it expedient to build a Town Hall, which is in the near future." 

"OLD CITIZEN." 

Madison, April 19th, 1887. 



LA FAYETTE'S VISIT TO MADISON NO. 1 

From the Palladium of Liberty, the first newspaper published in 
Morristown, we gather the following: 

"Gen. Lafayette left Morristown at an early hour on Friday, 
July 15th, 1825, and arrived at Bottle Hill at the house of Maj. 
Hunting at 8 o'clock A. M., where the citizens and about 100 hundred 
scholars had been anxiously waiting for more than an hour. His 
arrival was greeted by the discharge of cannon and the ringing of the 
bell. At the house appointed for his reception he was waited upon by 
Col. Brittin, Maj. Hunting and the committee, and conducted under 
an arch tastefully arranged and decorated with evergreen into the 
house, where refreshments were bountifully spread. The Rev. Mr. 
Bergen addressed the General as follows: 

'Reverend and honored father: We greet you to our happy 
land ; as a minister of Christ I address you with my parishioners ; I 
have come to yield to you our congratulations as the early friend of 
our country, the early companion of our beloved Washington, now no 
more. Honored sir, may sweet felicity attend you during your stay 
:m our happy land — may the protection of heaven bear you safely upon 
the waves of the ocean, to the bosom of your family, and the blessings 
of God rest on you forever through Jesus Christ.' 

"To which the General replied: 'Accept, dear sir, my con- 
gratulations for yourself, your village and your country, and my thanks 
for your kind desire for my welfare.' 

"The General was then conducted by the late Col. Brittin into 
an adjoining room, where the ladies were assembled, where also the 
misses of the academy were arrayed, dressed in white and tastefully 
adorned with flowers and evergreen, under the care of their teacher, 
Mr. J. T. Derthick. As soon as they were presented to the notice 
of the General, thirteen of them, representing the thirteen original 

34 



THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS of MADISON, NEW JERSEY 



States, and, in concert, all as one, pronounced the following address 
in a clear, distinct, and impressive manner: 

All hail to the hero, Columbia's great friend; 
Whose fame will resound 'till creation shall end; 
Now welcome, thrice welcome, to our happy clime, 
Where virtue is honored in Freedom sublime, 
You sought us weak, and you found us when poor, 
But now we are strong, and the conflict is o'er; 
We tender our homage, extend you our hands, 
And gratitude every bosom expands. 
The loss of our Washington still we regret, 
But almost behold him in thee, La Fayette; 
And could his good spirit now look from the dead, 
The heavens would scarcely retain the blest shade. 
Now, fare you well, father, we see you no more — 
The ocean will bear you away from our shore; 
May fortune attend you across the broad main, 
Until your own daughters embrace you again. 

"The eyes of the General appeared to wander over and survey 
the interesting group. When the name of Washington sounded on his 
ear his countenance became grave and his attention appeared fixed, as 
if holding intercourse with the spirit of his departed chieftain and 
friend. Two of the young misses now presented each a copy of their 
address to him. The General then very affectionately addressed the 
scholars, thanking them for their attention to him — for their friendly 
address, and especially for their manner of delivering it — he then stood 
a moment as if enjoying the scene, till his attendants interposed and 
led him out of the room; Col. Brittin then conducted him to the side- 
board for refreshments, and after an interchange of good feeling the 
General was conducted to his carriage, and the cavalcade moved off 
in the direction of Newark." 



LA FAYETTE'S VISIT TO MADISON, NO. 2 

(Editorial from the Madison Eagle, July 25, 1885, Vol. Ill, No. 39, 

by Fred B. Bardon.) 

"There has been so much controversy recently in reference to 
the exact date of La Fayette's visit to Madison and the entertainment 
provided by the villagers, that we have made special efforts to secure 
the exact facts in both instances. Gen. La Fayette visited Bottle Hill, 

35 



THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS of MADISON, NEW JERSEY 

the original name of Madison, on July 15, 1825, and not 1824, as 
many suppose. Again we can state with confidence that the *poem 
recited on this occasion was participated in by thirteen girls of the 
Madison Academy, who repeated the lines in unison. The composer 
was J. T. Derthick, the principal of the school. 

"Through the kindness of Mrs. William J. Brittin we have on 
exhibition at our office a photographic copy of the badge worn by 
Colonel Brittin on that occasion. At the extreme top was the picture 
of Lafayette, beneath which were the following verses, which were not, 
however, composed by Mr. Derthick, as stated by the Jerseyman last 
week. History does not reveal the author's name: 

Hail, patriot, statesman, hero, sage! 

Hail, freedom's friend ; hail, Gallia's son, 
Whose laurels greener grow in age, 

Plucked by the side of Washington! 
Hail, champion in a holy cause, 

When hostile bands our shores beset! 
Whose valor bade th' oppressor pause — 

Hail, hoary warrior — LAFAYETTE! 

Whene'er the lips of youth inquire 

The path to virtue, honor, fame — 
To glory's temple proud aspire, 

While warmly glows the ardent flame; 
The voice of age shall fearless tell 

What perils oft its path beset, 
And prompt them onward by the spell 

That urged the soul of — LAFAYETTE. 

And when the shades of death shall close 

Forever round the hallowed head, 
We'll seek the place of thy repose, 

By filial love and duty lead. 
And hearts that beat in bosoms free, 

(Gems by unerring wisdom set), 
The living monument shall be, 

Of Freedom's champion — LAFAYETTE. 



* For the poem see the excerpt from the Morristown Palladium 
as reprinted in another part of this sketch. 

36 



THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS of MADISON, NEW JERSEY 

"The original badge is the property of Mr. W. J. Brittin, the son 
of Colonel Brittin, but now is in the possession of Dr. Lewis A. Sayre, 
of New York, to whom it was loaned by this gentleman. 

"We failed to find, after considerable research, mention of the 
fact that ex-Sheriff Freeman, of Morristown, made an address upon 
this occasion. He possibly might have been smuggled in among the 
little damsels and assisted in repeating the poem mentioned above. The 
ex-Sheriff being now a good looking man, undoubtedly possessed 
greater beauty in his youth, and it was only necessary to substitute a 
dress for a pair of pantaloons to make him a little 'Daisy' of a girl. 
Let the local editor of the Jerseyman ascertain if this was not the case. 
It would also give us great pleasure to secure a copy of the address 
delivered by Dr. Lewis R. Sayre. History does not record the fact. 
It is plainly stated, however, that Rev. Mr. Bergen, of the Presby- 
terian Church, made the address of welcome, to which La Fayette re- 
sponded in fitting terms. It is to be regretted that so many of our people 
are unacquainted with the history of our village, especially for the past 
three score years." 



Communication to the Madison Weekly Eagle. 

(As published August 15, 1885, Vol. Ill, No. 42.) 

"Editor Eagle: 

"A friend has sent me your paper of the 18th July, containing 
the interesting 'paper read in the Methodist Episcopal Church, Madi- 
son, N. J., July 3rd, 1885, by Rev. J. H. Knowles, on the occasion 
of the national celebration.' Everything connected with the history of 
our native town — which I left forty-nine years ago last April — is of 
the greatest interest to me, and the events relating to the visit of Gen. 
Lafayette to our then little village of Bottle Hill, are still vivid in my 
memory, and never made a deeper impression than the poetic address 
recited to that noble foreigner by the thirteen little girls, all dressed in 
white and garlanded with flowers and evergreens, representing the 
thirteen original States. The lines dedicated were written by the 
teacher of the Academy, Mr. J. T. Derthick. It may be of interest to 
you and the readers of the Eagle to know that the youngest and 
smallest of the little girls — for they were graduated in size— a niece of 
the late Col. Wm. Brittin, is now living in Chicago, the wife of one of 
its oldest residents. She was also one of the two who presented to 
Lafayette a copy of the address after it was recited in unison by the 
thirteen. Yours, i . d. ^. 



37 



THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS of MADISON, NEW JERSEY 



THE OLD ACADEMY AND ITS SURROUNDINGS 

J. P. L., in a contribution to the Morristown Chronicle under the 
date of June, 1897, descriptive of "The Old Academy," has this to 
say: 

"This institution of learning rejoiced in a fine situation and a 
beautiful view in all directions, but had very little shade. In the 
meadows in the rear a few gnarled apple trees grew, whose pink 
blooms in spring and rosy fruit in autumn proved very tempting to our 
mothers and grandmothers, wee maidens in pinafores. Like true 
daughters of Eve they gathered the apples and filled their sleeves and 
pockets; unlike Eve, they did not tempt any of the sterner sex with 1 
them, but kept them in their desks for home consumption, when their 
teacher's eyes were not upon him. 

"The Ridgedale and Burnet ponds, though mere springs in those 
days, were great resorts at the 'play-spell,' as they called their recess, 
and the calamus cheeses, that grew in the latter, together with green 
apples and kindred dainties, served as entrees or as garnishes to their 
homely luncheons and made of the whole a delectable feast, accom- 
panied as it was by that most piquant of all sauces — a country child's 
healthy appetite. In the rear of what is now Mr. Paulmier's store 
there was another pond, called the 'Willows,' with low banks and a 
row of willow trees growing through the middle of it. Without this 
sheet of water the whole process of education would have been an 
exceedingly dry affair, for here they skated and tumbled, in winter, and 
here they fished for frogs in summer with red cloth fastened to bent 
pins. 

"The lack of shade around the old academy made it all the more 
cheerful within during the cold winters, for the room on the lower 
floor was large and sunny with a generous open fireplace at the eastern 
end and windows on the north and south. Just under these stood the 
oaken desks, dark with age and ornamented with many a name and 
initial cut into the hard wood by the schoolboys' busy penknife. Some 
of these names have since become famous, some are still familiar to our 
village, while others are utterly forgotten. In front of the desks ran 
one long bench with no back, hard and uncomfortable it must have 
been, especially when the little feet did not touch the floor and were 
obliged to dangle all through the long hours in midair. As a result, 
they wriggled and squirmed incessantly, and many a wistful eye glanced 
through the window towards the blue hills of Boon ton in the distance 
and the green orchards and meadows nearer by and longed for the 
weary day to be over. There was one delightful distraction, however, 
from the dull routine of study; water, fresh from the spring near by, 

38 



THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS of MADISON, NEW JERSEY 

was passed at a certain hour in the morning and again in the afternoon. 
Whether thirsty or not, this beverage was freely indulged in by all, and 
in many cases the operation of drinking became so prolonged as to call 
forth a reproof from the teacher. 

"Order was generally well maintained, but there were occasional 
breaches of discipline and sallies of impertinence; when, for instance^ 
one warm summer morning a scholar, bent on playing truant, rode up* 
on his horse to the open window just as the roll was called, shouted 
'present!' and dashed off through the village for a good time. An- 
other day a tall boy was called up to the desk to be feruled, as the 
teacher said, 'for the sauce he had given him,' when a little curly 
headed chap, now one of our dignified citizens, shouted in his childish, 
treble: 'Where did he get the apples to make the sauce?' This was 
considered by the children to be the refinement of wit. What the. 
teacher thought we know not, doubtless he had his hands full. But 
they had good times at the play-spell. 'Snap the whip' generally in- 
cluded every boy on the grounds, and woe to that urchin on the endl 
of the long line, for he was sure to meet the fate that some unfortunates; 
encounter in society — he was dropped. They played 'bull in the ring' 
and 'mumble peg,' they leaped themselves lame through the mazes of 
'hopscotch,' and in baseball, played in an old-fashioned way, they sent 
the ball even beyond the bridge. 

"But winter, with its deep unsullied snows and bracing winds, 
was the most glorious time for fun, for then they became architects foe 
the time, and hours and even days were spent in building snow forts*, 
where they fought over again the battles of their country, and so ex- 
cited the boys became in these mock battles that sometimes they ended' 
in a single combat that was quite in earnest. It is not long since a< 
distinguished alumnus of this institution, visiting our village, encoun- 
tered on the road one of his old schoolmates and shouted to him, 'Do 
you remember the licking I gave you at the old academy?' but the old! 
gentleman, feeble with the infirmities of age, had lost all recollection of 
being 'licked,' and had retained only pleasant memories of his olcf 
comrade. 

"When original sin became rampant in the schoolroom one of 
the pupils was dispatched to a quince bush in the rear of the building for 
a bundle of sprouts. He generally departed with a vivid consciousness 
of his own virtue, in that he was not the culprit this time and a strong- 
sense of his own importance of being an auxiliary in the cause of 
justice. But once outside the close schoolroom, taking in the balmy 
air and the sunshine, with the blue sky overhead and the grasses ancf 
flowers under his feet, his heart generally relented and he allowed 1 
'mercy to season justice,' for as he cut the branches from the quince 

39 



THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS of MADISON, NEW JERSEY 



tree he notched them each at regular intervals, so that when applied 
to the back of the poor little culprit they soon fell to pieces, and the 
punishment became a farce. 

"But this was not all of the Old Academy, for a winding stair- 
case led to the upper room, at one end of which was a stage and two 
small dressing rooms. Here prayer meetings were held before the lecture 
room, now the borough ofFxe, was built. 

"In 1881 the old building was abandoned for a larger and finer 
one on Green avenue, and then it sank gradually into a dilapidated 
state. The window panes became the target for each passing urchin, 
the doors became loose on their hinges, the shutters hung with a sullen 
air and a general expression of shabbiness settled down over the whole 
structure, while silence profound reigned within, where once the walls 
had resounded with the busy hum of study, the droning of the reading 
classes and the impassioned eloquence of the youthful orator. 

"The old building lingered a little longer than the span allotted 
to man, for it was seventy-seven years old when, one calm moonlight 
night, the 1 st of December, 1 886, it was found to be on fire. A 
rsmall crowd of boys and men gathered on the spot and watched the 
conflagration, but no effort was made to arrest it. At last the roof 
fell in with a crash, a brighter blaze shot up for a few moments only 
to die away soon after, and the soft moonlight fell over all that was left 
of the old academy, a heap of smouldering ruins. 

"They have built a larger, finer schoolhouse on Green avenue, 
they have more comfortable seats, they have shorter hours, the latest 
text books, improved methods of teaching and kinder discipline, but 
they have not the old associations. Truly has Longfellow said: 'You 
may build more splendid habitations, but you cannot buy with gold 
.the old associations.' 



THE ACADEMY BELL 

After Ninety Years' Service Now Treasured by Fire Company. 
Steward Burke, of the Madison Fire Department, has had a large 
and handsome case built in which he has set the Old Academy Bell, 
which until recently did service as a fire alarm for the borough. The 
bell is an old relic of Bottle Hill days. It was cast in 1 809 by 
Ephraim Force, of New York, father of C. C. Force, of this place, 
and was hung in the old academy and called those who are now our 
oldest inhabitants to the study hour. In 1 863 the bell became cracked, 
and it was necessary to recast it. In the year 1886, after 11 years 
£»f service at the academy, it was transferred to the bell tower of the 

40 



THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS of MADISON, NEW JERSEY 

truck house, where it was used until last month as a lire alarm. 

The following verses, written by a Madisoman, whose identity we 
have lost, is a faithful history of the old bell: 

THE OLD ACADEMY BELL 

It has been the old timepiece 

In the country miles around. 
All have listened to the ringing 

Of the school bell's joyful sound. 
Day by day it rang out loudly 

Sounding forth its tones so clear; 
In the tempest or the sunshine 

It has pealed out year by year. 
Children answered to the calling 

From the hilltop to the dell, 
At the rolling and the tolling 

Of the Old Academy Bell. 

Still it rings with old time vigor, 

As it did in days of yore, 
When the children gathered 'round it 

To march through the open door. 
Eagerly they listened daily, 

As it rang at half-past eight. 
Hurrying on with nimble footsteps, 

With great fear of being late 
For the opening exercises. 

And their hearts would swell 
At the rolling and the tolling 

Of the Old Academy Bell. 

Many years has stood the schoolhouse 

Near the crossroads on the hill — 
Standing there in stately grandeur, 

With delight all hearts to fill. 
It has been the pride of thousands 

Who have been within its walls, 
There to learn and there to frolic 

Till the ponderous bell did call 
All to order and to silence — 

No one dared to break the spell, 
Of the rolling and the tolling 

Of the Old Academy Bell. 

41 



THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS of MADISON, NEW JERSEY 



There it stood among the bushes, 

With its belfry towering high 
Up into the shady tree tops, 

Almost reaching the sky; 
And the fresh green grass about it, 

Glittering in the morning dew. 
'Twas the place for boys to gather, 

And their hoops and balls to view, 
But their fun and frolic ended 

And their laughter had to quell 
At the rolling and the tolling 

Of the Old Academy Bell. 

Years and years it was the pleasure 

For the boys, so full of play, 
To begin their sport at midnight, 

Welcoming Independence Day. 
It has rung for joy and sorrow, 

Rung for peace and rung for fear; 
Is it then a special wonder, 

That the bell seems very dear? 
When the town was burned with fire 

The only sound the alarm to tell 
Was the rolling and the tolling 

Of the Old Academy Bell. 

After all its faithful service 

There it hangs and has full sway 
In the city's fire department 

Keeping watch all through the day. 
When its ponderous tones swell outward 

On the icy air at night, 
How it rouses all the people 

With great terror and affright! 
Well it need be heeded quickly, 

For what danger, who can tell? 
At the rolling and the tolling 

Of the Old Academy Bell. 



(From the Madison Eagle, September 15, 1899. Vol. XVII, No. 48.) 

42 



THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS of MADISON, NEW JERSEY 



THE GRADUATES OF THE MADISON-SCHOOL 

The Madison School has graduated 107 students, commencing 
with the year 1895, as follows: 



1895 
Clarke, Jennette 
Combs, Hattie 
Griswold, Chauncy 
Hamilton, Lavinia 
Hancock, Louise 
Hancock, Jennie 
Hopping, Maud 
Matthews, Bertha 
Young, Carrie 
Secor, Edward 

1896 
No Class 

1897 
Brant, Harry S. 
Bruen, Lillian 
Cook, Elizabeth S. 
Hart, Mamie* 
Hanlon, Nora 
Herring, Louise 
House, Homer 
Kemble, Bessie 
Tunis, Ethel 

1898 
Buttenheim, Edgar 
Buttenheim, Adelaide 
Crasto, Estelle 
Culp, Ivy 
Gardner, Bessie 
Mansfield, Violet* 
Miller, Elizabeth E. 
Myer, Helen 

1899 
Allen, Kate 
Brant, Mary B. 
Blazier, Minnie B. 
Burnet, Ida 
Combs, Allen B. 



Combs, Herbert N. 
DeMott, Etta 
Dunham, Mabel 
Ely, Ernest F. 
Faulks, Helen 
Hamilton, Gertrude 
Hart, Kitty 
Lum, Mabel 

MacPherson, Alexander C. 
Neill, Louise M. 
Stull, Jane A.- 
Whittlesey, Sadie B. 

1900 
No Class 

1901 
Buttenheim, Percy 
Combs, Grace 
Ryan, Mary 
Searing, Marie 

1902 
Cook, Will H. 
DeMott, William F. 
Hibbs, Emma E. 
Squier, Edna 
Squier, Estelle 
Smith, Mamie M. 
Secor, May 
Miller, Euphemia 

1903 
Bardon, Fred W.* 
Buttenheim, Lester 
Doremus, Leon 
McPeek, Ezekiel 
Connelley, Ella 

1904 
Martin, Jean 
McGuirk, Florence 
Stevens, Ethel 



43 



THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS of MADISON, NEW JERSEY 



Young, Estelle 
Miller, Annabelle 
Van Voorhis, Fred 

1905 
Muchmore, Alice B. 
Markham, Ethel C. 
True, Lulu L. (colored) 
Secor, Edith A. 
Charlton, Lily 
McCarthy, Mae Agnes 
Buttenheim, Margaret 

1906 
Muchmore, Charles Edward 

1907 
Rogers, Elizabeth F. 
Combs, Florence 
Scarborough, Pauline O. 
Miller, Fred A. 

1908 
MacDougall, Hulda Isabella 
Stevens, Anna Lavinia 
Genung, Hazel Adelia 
Sampson, Margaret Ellen 
Mead, Claire Homan 
Puddington, Agnes Margaret 

^Deceased. 



Oakey, Gladys Thacher 
Oakey, Marguerite 
Miller, Edward Ball 

1909 
Combs, Isaac 
Lum, Hermann Arthur 
McCracken, Ferdinand Titus 
Parker, Ralph Hoyt 
Atchison, Olga Bouthel 
Stuntz, Clara 

True, Pansy Ada (colored) 
Veader, Ethel 

1910. 

Cook, Lindley Gueren 
Cook, Rena Jeanette 
Eagles, Alexander, Jr. 
Jackson, Ella Elizabeth 
Layer, Mabel Sinclair 
Merchant, Florence Lenora 
Muchmore, Boyd Moreland 
Scarborough, Eugene Wesley 
Squier, Ada Fuller 
Stuntz, Hugh Clark 
Van Voorhis, Preston Albright 



SOME SCHOOL DATA 



1 he East Madison School closed with the end of the school year 

of 1905. At the annual meeting, March 21, 1899, the Board of 

LLducation was authorized to sell, rent or mortgage the Union Hill 

School by a vote of 5 1 votes for and 4 against. It was sold June 2, 

1900, to Chas. E. Morse for $1,225. 

As the old building site on Ridgedale avenue became an eyesore 
without an apparent owner or one interested in its keeping, the Board 
of Education, which body assumed the right to ownership according 
to the terms of reversion in the deed given by James Burnet in 1 803, 
and in accordance with the resolution passed in the annual meeting in 
March, 1901, offered the property at public sale on Saturday, May 
25, 1901, at 2 o'clock P. M., and Mr. James A. Webb was the 
purchaser, having paid $300 for the same. 



44 



THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS of MADISON, NEW JERSEY 

In connection with this sale we must note the fact that Mrs. 
Helen M. Brittin, who claimed to be the owner of this property, deeded 
the same to the Borough, and it was accepted, May 13, 1901. 

The history of the conveyance of the school lot and the facts 
pertaining thereto are of the deepest interest locally. There is no 
question as to the lot being deeded to the township of Chatham in 
1803 by James Burnet, but there has been considerable doubt as to the 
clause of reversion in the deed to his heirs in case the property ceased 
to be used for school purposes. When there was talk of building the 
present parochial school on Park avenue, the rector of St. Vincent's 
Church waited upon the late John B. Miller to ascertain if the old 
academy and grounds could be purchased. Mr. Miller said that he 
would see that a meeting of the Board of Trustees be called and 
action taken m regard to the sale of the property. The meeting was 
held in the residence of the late William Jackson Brittin, and was 
attended by John B. Miller, Matthais L. Burnet, William J. Brittin, 
rwrs. William J. Brittin, and Abram Brittin. When the call for the 
meeting had been read by Mr. Miller, William J. Brittin said that 
"the property could not be disposed of as long as water ran and grass 
grew." He then produced the deed, which he had in his possession, 
and read it with a clause of reversion inserted. The deed, which was 
never recorded and cannot be found, has been the means of all the 
present trouble. 

When the school was abandoned in 1881 the property was taxed, 
and at the end of three years was advertised for sale for unpaid taxes. 
Mrs. William J. Brittin then came forward and paid the arrearages, 
amounting to $51. The building was burned in 1 886, and from that 
time there was no tax levied. 

In 1 888 Mrs. Brittin desired that something should be done to the 
property, and with the hope that the Chatham Township Committee, 
then the authorized legal body for Madison, would erect a public 
building thereon, gave them the deed for it, with the signatures of the 
heirs of James Burnet, the donor. They were Matthais B. Howell, 
Ambrose Burnet Howell, grandsons of the donor; William J. Brittin 
and wife, Mulford A. Hopping and wife, and William S. Young and 
wife. This deed was drawn up by Mr. Tuttle, of Newark, and the 
affidavit of William J. Brittin was taken as to his knowledge of the 
existence of the original deed, which contained the clause of the rever- 
sion of the property to the heirs of James Burnet when the property 
ceased to be used for school purposes. When last seen the original 
deed was in the possession of Alfred B. Brittin, cousin of William J. 
Brittin, who was district clerk of the board. It is thought that after his 
death the deed was burned with other papers without knowledge of its 

45 



THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS of MADISON, NEW JERSEY 

value. 

The deed given by the heirs of Mr. Burnet to Chatham Town- 
ship followed that body from Madison to Chatham, and from Chatham 
to what now remains of the Chatham Township — a small section to the 
west of Madison. At the school meeting in March, 1901, in Madison, 
the voters passed a resolution authorizing the Board of Education to 
sell the lot at public sale. Mrs. Brittin was determined that not only 
should her rights be observed, but that the names of her ancestors 
should be preserved in perpetuity, and at an expense of $250 secured 
the return of the deed from Chatham Township. She then tendered it 
to the Borough Council, with the provision that a public building must 
he built thereon. 



There is an insurance of $10,000 on building No. 1 and $2,500 
on contents; $15,000 on building No. 2 and $2,500 on contents, and 
$10,000 on the Central avenue school and $2,500 on contents. The 
East Madison school building is insured for $2,750. 

On May 6, 1892, A. B. Poland, State Superintendent of Public 
Schools, changed the school district lines, giving to Madison the schools 
of Loantaka, East Madison and Union Hill. Previous to that there 
was but the Greene avenue school property belonging to the Madison 
district, but the irregular boundary lines which governed it caused fre- 
quent disputes, and the change was not only considered wise, but proved 
beneficial. 



SCHOOL HISTORY 

We include in this pamphlet a picture of the old homestead of 
Matthias L. Burnett, whose name was connected with all matters per- 
taining to the early history of Bottle Hill and Madison. He was the 
postmaster when the mail was carried by stage from Elizabeth to Mor- 
ristown, and the office was on the right of the front entrance. It was 
under the tree to the right of the picture, a small portion of which is 
shown, that the entertainment was given when Gen. La Fayette visited 
Madison, to which allusion was made by Dr. Louis A. Sayre in a 
letter to Chas. C. Force in another portion of this pamphlet. The 
building has been somewhat remodelled since then, and previous to the 
erection of the handsome brick structure now occupying the old site, was 
removed down Central avenue, where it still remains. 

One of the properties belonging to the Madison School District in- 
cludes the East Madison School, lot and building, the former being con- 
veyed by Julia A. Griswold, February 1 6, 1 888, and is 157 feet 5 

46 



•o 
r 
o 

a 
o 

s 

H 
■as 

H 

> 






THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS of MADISON, NEW JERSEY 

inches by 1 35 feet 3 inches, the stipulation being that the Board of 
Trustees should erect a fence around the said property and keep it in 
repair "at all times forever." The price paid was $100. 



The deed for the Greer e avenue property is dated December 4, 
1878, and was given by Alice L. and Augusta Greene. It conveyed a 
plot 2 1 7 feet front with a depth of 1 92 feet on the upper, and of 1 45 
feet on the lower end, making the back line about 224 feet 1 1 inches. 
It contained 1.327 acres, 



DIMENSIONS OF PLOT 



224 ft. 11 in. 




217 ft. front. 



The prohibitory features were that no slaughter house, blacksmith 
shop, livery stable, any manufactory of gunpowder, glue, varnish, bone 
dust, vitriol, ink or turpentine, or for tanning, dressing or preparing of 
skins, hides or leatrer, cr any brewery, distillery, or any noxious trade 
or business whatever. 



The bonds of tre old school No. 1, or Greene avenue school, 
were of the denomination of $100, and ran from 1 to 206, dated Jan- 
uary 1, 1879, and $2,000 were paid each year thereafter. 

The bonds for No. 2 building, amounting to $15,000, were Slid 
to Edward C. Jones & Co, of New York, for $108.15, they bes' Hg 
5 per cent, interest, and $2,000 to be retired each year, commencing 
with 1917. 

48 



THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS of MADISON, [NEW S JERSEY 



SOME OLD HISTORY 




Copy of a bill. 




Madison Academy 




to L. B. Morris, Dr. 




For 1 earthen bowl for stove 


ny z 


6 yards wire 


6 


1 desk lock of Mr. Thompson 


34 


1 rope for bell. E. Baker 


50 


2 brooms at 1 4 cts. 


28 


Repairing stove door. Mr. Miller 


50 




1.80 


Bottle Hill, Apr. 20, 1829 





MEMORANDA. 

Dec 2 — 1805, Isreal Ward, 

To 1 pain of glass broken by his son. 
Dec 2 1805, Israle Ward, 

To 1 pain of glass broken by his son. 



On Dec. 28, 1 844, the trustees met to adopt prices for tuition as 
follows : 

For spelling and reading, per quarter 1.50 

With the addition of writing 1.75 

Arithmetic, with or without the above 2.00 

English grammar or geography either 

with or without the above 2.25 

This was signed by each of the trustees, viz. : 

H. P. Green, dissenting 

Charles Ross 

William H. Sayre 

Joseph S. Sayre 

Geo. T. Sayre, dissenting 

S. D. Hunting 

James Roll 



Charles C. Force was elected one of the stockholders of the 
Academy April 16, 1850, and Samuel D. Burnet, April 15, 1851. 



49 



THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS of MADISON, NEW JERSEY 

"At a meeting of the Stockholders and Employers of the Madison 
Academy March 21,1 846, on comparing opinions with the employees 
it was resolved to make an effort to establish in connection with our 
present school a female school in the Academy under the instruction of 
one head as principle and the trustees be authorized to effect the same." 

At a meeting of the Board of Trustees on October 19, 1842, at 
the house of H. P. Green, there were present Ira Burnet, James Roll, 
Charles Ross, George T. Sayre, and H. P. Green. H. P. Green was 
appointed president and S. D. Hunting clerk of the said board. 

On motion of Mr. Ira Burnet the board resolved to build a fence 
of white oak timber around the Madison Academy, the posts to be not 
less than eight by six inches and set eight feet apart with two rails not 
less than four inches square between them and to set forest trees in the 
enclosure. 

The board also agreed to offer a reward of five dollars for dis- 
covery of the person or persons who broke open the door of the lower 
room of the Academy during the present vacation and directed their 
clerk to set up three advertisements in the village of Madison offering 
-such reward. 




THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS of MADISON, NEW JERSEY 
THE LOANTAKA SCHOOL 

We herewith present an excellent picture of the Loantaka School 
building, which was for many years included in the Madison district. 
It was sold on Saturday, September 17, 1 9 1 0, by order of the Chat- 
ham Township Board of Education, and William F. Redmond pur- 
chased it for $1,050. 

Such of the minutes of the meetings of the Loantaka Board of 
Education which we thmk will prove of interest are herewith given. 

June 21, 1856 pursuant to notice a meeting was held by the 
Tenable inhabitants of Loantica Vally District School No 6 on Motion 
Ira Sturges was appointed Chairman Alfred Lindsly Secretary it was 
resolved that all previous business annulled 

Resolved that this meeting adjourn for one week. 

pursuant to adjournment of a meeting of the inhabitants of the 
District School No. 6 Loantica Valley held on June 28 1856 Ira 
Sturges Chairman P. A. Dean Secretary the minuts of the previous 
meeting was read and approved Resolved Resolved that this meet- 
ing proceed Vote by ballot Yes 38 No 2 Resolved that the vote 
be Recorded as unanimous Resolved that the following Resolutions 
be accepted Resolved that the following be appointed a Building 
Committee F. S. Lathrop Benj Say re Resolved that the Trustees 
be added to the Building Committee Ira Sturges John DeHart A 
Lindsly Resolved that the Building Committee be instructed to erect a 
building for a School house as per plans & specifications here to fore 
presented at a previous meeting Resolved 

Loantica Valley August 13 / 1856 

at a meeting Convened of the Trustees 
and Building Committee of the Loantica Vally 
District School present F. S. Lathrop 
John DeHart Ira Sturges Benj Sayre 
Alfred Lindsly Resolved that Benj Sayre 
& Alfred Lindsly Sell the old School house 
at privat or publick Sale Resolved 
that Miller & Parcells do the Mason work 
according to their contract and that J. E. 
Muchmore the Carpenter Work. 
Resolved that F. S. Lathrop prepare the Contracts 
and have them filed in the Clerks office 
in Morristown Resolved that the meeting 
adjourn Alfred Lindsly Secretary 

Ira Sturges Chairman. 

51 



THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS of MADISON, NEW JERSEY 

Loantica Valley School Dis No 6. 
the Regular Anual Meeting was held Apr 6/57 

on Motion Mr. I. R. Sturges was appointed 
Chairman on Motion Alfred Lindsly 
was appointed Secretary on motion 
it was Resolved that Mr. John 
DeHart be elected Trustee for 
three years Ira Sturges for one year 
and A. Lindsly for 2 years, 
on motion Alfred Lindsly was 
appointed censor for Morris Township 
Side of the District on motion 
Ira Sturges was appointed for 
Censor for the Chatham Side 
Resolved that Mr. Sturges receive 
2 dollars for his services and A. 
Lindsly 1.50. on motion it was Resolved 
that Miss Matilda Lewis Be employed 
to teach the school for three months 
for Seventy dollars on motion the 
Meeting adjourned. 

July 29 . 57 
A School Meeting 
was held in the Loantica 
Vally Schoolhouse for the 
purpose of Employing a Teacher 
it was Resolved that 
the Trustees employ Miss 
Matilda Lewis to teach 
the School for two terms 
Commencing Second week 
in September for 75.00 dollars 
per term 

on Motion the Meeting 
was adjourned 

Wm. M. Muchmore Char 
Alfred Lindsly 

Sect. 

March 13 / 1858 

A School Meeting was held 

in the Loantica Valley District Schoolhouse 

53 



THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS of MADISON, NEW JERSEY 

on Motion John J. Conkling 

was appointed Chairman 

and Alfred Lindsly Sect. 

on motion Miss Eliza Lewis 

was employed to Teach the School 

for 2 quarters at Seventy five 

dollars per quarter 

on Motion the meeting was adjourned 
Alfred Lindsly Sect 

April 5 1858 
the Anual Meeting was held 
at the Loantica Valley School District 

Wm. M. Muchmore was 
appointed Chairman. Joseph E. Muchmore 
was appointed Trustee 
for three years Joseph E. Muchmore 
was appointed to take the Number 
of Children on Chatham side and 
to receive $2. Alfred Lindsly was appointed 
to take the number of Children 
in Morris and to receive $1.50 
for services on motion the meeting 
passed a vote of thanks to Mr. 
Ira Sturges for services rendered 
the School on motion it was resolved that the trustees 
collect the money for schooling from those that send 
to this school that live not in 
this District on Motion the Meeting 
adjourned A. Lindsly Sect. 

1859 A School Meeting 
was held at the Loantica 
Valley School house March 12 
on motion it was Resolved 
that a Male teacher be employed 
it was Resolved that Mr. 
Wilbur Morrow be employed 

to teach two quarters 

if he gives Satisfaction at $75 

dollars per quarter John Dehart Chairman 

Alfred Lindsly Secretary 

54 



THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS of MADISON,! NEW [JERSEY 

A School Meeting was held 
at Loantica Valley School house :, 

April 7, 1859 John Dehart was j, 

appointed Chairman 

Mr. John Absolom 
was elected trustee for three years 
it was resolved that Mr. Absolom 
take the Census in Chatham and Morris 
townsp and receive 
for the same 3 dollars & 50 cents 
Resolved this Meeting be adjourned 
Alfred Lindsly 
Secretary 

At a Meeting held at school 
House No 6 Sept 15, 1859. 
on Motion John J. Conklin 
was appointed chairman 
)n motion it was resolved 
that the Trustees employ 
William Morrow the next 
two quarters if he gives 
Satisfaction at $75 per quarter 

J. E. Muchmore Sec. 

At a Meeting held at 
School House No. 6 Feb 2, 1860 
on motion Davis Pierson was 
appointed chairman, on motion 
it was resolved that the 
* Trustees employ Miss Margaret 
Sayre to teach the school as 
long as she pleases the 

people of the district for $65 a quarter The 
Minutes of the last meeting was read 
and approved 

J. E. Muchmore Sec. 

At a Meeting held at School 
house No. 6. April 2. 1860 
on motion David Pierson was 
appointed chairman, on motion 
Charles Muchmore was elected 

55 



THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS of MADISON, NEW JERSEY 

Trustee for the next three years 
on motion J. E. Muchmore takes 
the census and to receive $2 
for Chatham and $1.50 for Morris 
the minutes of the last meeting 
was read and approved. 

J. E. Muchmore Sec. 

At a Meeting held 
Sept 23, 1861 at Schoolhouse 
Number 6 Mr. David Pierson 
was appointed chairman, 
on motion the Trustees employ 
Miss Margaret Sayre for the 
winter 

J. E. Muchmore Sec. 

Excerpt from the minutes of April 3rd, 1865. 

"It was moved and seconded that three dollars be appropriated to 
defray the expenses of taking the census of the children between the 
ages of five and eighteen years in the district and Chas. L. Chovey was 
appointed to take such census. 

It was moved and seconded that Miss Margaret Sayre our present 
teacher be requested to make out and present bills to the parents of 
scholars of this district residing in Morris township to the amount of 
ihe deficit existing on her salary. 

It was moved and seconded that we adjourn and so ordered." 

April 1, 1867, Mr. Geoff roy was chosen secretary. No record 
can be found from that time until Sept. 1, 1878, when J. E. Much- 
more was chosen. On May 3, 1879, Charles L. Chovey was elected 
chairman and Nathaniel Clark, clerk. 

On the 6th day of May, 1 892, the Loantica School was made a 
part of Madison District No. 8 1 , the old district lines of No. 76 being 
abolished by order of A. B. Poland, State Superintendent of Public 
Instruction. At a meeting of the Board on March 15th, 1892, the fol- 
lowing is a part of the minutes: 

"After a full and free discussion of the proposition to unite the 
district with that of Madison it was thought by those present that such 
a union would be a good thing." 



56 



THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS of MADISON, NEW JERSEY 



THE UNION HILL SCHOOL 

The school house at Union Hill was built in the year 1 862 by 
Harvey M. Lum, of Chatham, New Jersey, and was occupied in the 
Spring of 1863. It took the place of the old fashioned brick school 
bouse which stood on Division avenue, just west of the D., L. & W. 
R. R. tracks. A weekly prayer meeting was held for several years in 
the upper floor of the Union Hill school house. Delegates from the 
Presbyterian Church at Madison attended these meetings weekly. It 
was a union service, and was participated in by leaders from other 
denominations. 

It was in this building that the second school free library in the 
State of New Jersey was placed. The first free school library in the 
State was put in the East Madison school house about the year 1 873. 

The State of New Jersey has the honor of being the first State 
to find a way to encourage free school libraries without direct taxation. 
The law provides that where not less than $20 is given in any one 
district the State will give $20, and each year thereafter when the sum 
of $ 1 is given the State will add $ 1 0. It appears that where the effort 
has been made to raise $20 or $10 usually a much larger sum has been 
given. Raising this money by tax is strictly forbidden. New Jersey is 
one of the States in the Union where the principle of voluntary gift to 
insure the State's gift has been adopted. 

The author of this bill was the Hon. Nathaniel Niles, of Madison, 
whose interest in the public schools of New Jersey has never waned. 

One of our townsmen, in describing the first school house at Union 
Hill, said it was about 1 8x30 feet, one story high, single door in front 
end; large stone chimney with huge fireplace in the other end. About 
1846 or 1847 that end was taken out and a modern brick chimney 
was built, and two windows were put in that end. Then a stove was 
added, known as the old tenplate, and it looked like a small steam engine. 

In 1 863 the old building and lot were sold at auction to Ira 
Genung, and the building to Edward Muldowney, who moved it to the 
southwest corner of Prospect street and Hillside avenue, Madison. 

Of the teachers we herewith append the names from 1 843 to 
1863, when the new building was used: 

Miss Hannah Bower Mr. Ashbel Wright 

Miss Marietta Tuttle Mr. Henry Smith 

Mr. John Condit Miss Anna E. Thompson 

Dr. Forges Mr. Stephen H. Ward 

Mr. James K. Magie Miss Johanna B. Thompson 

Miss Sarah A. Carter Mr. Van Cleve 

57 




o 
o 
a 

m 



o 

B 



THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS of MADISON, NEW JERSEY 

Mr. Parsons Mr. Francis Smith 

Mr. Charles Sayre Mr. Richard Robinson 

Mr. Wilbur F. Morrow, 1 863 

Of these teachers Mr. Wright is still living at Newark, N. J., and 
Mr. Stephen H. Ward at Chatham, N. J. 

The present Union Hill school building, as has been said, was 
built by Harvey M. Lum, of Chatham, N. J. Israel D. Lum was en- 
gaged in preparing the window frames, when he left to take part in the 
Civil War, and Francis W. Bruen was engaged as one of the work- 
men on the building, and he remained until it was finished. These are 
the only persons living to-day, as far as we can learn, who took any 
part in the construction of the building. 



THE EAST MADISON SCHOOL 

History of the East Madison School House as given by B. B. Griswold 
and from search made by F. H. Lum, of Morristown. 
(We are under obligations to Mrs. Lydia Griswold for the following; 

memorandum prepared by her husband.) 

March 21st, 1884. 

The first schoolhouse was a wooden one, standing near the present 
site in the corner of the lot and close to both roads. It had only the 
land it stood upon, and it is not known how it was obtained or from 
whom. The old schoolhouse was replaced by the brick one about 1 826. 
The land was given by John Ward. The means ior building was 
raised by subscription. A constitution was made, but not filed. It was 
agreed that the upper room might be used for all civil and orderly 
purposes, even to holding justices' courts. Until 1882 the upper room 
was not used for the day school except to house the district library. 

J. K. Hoyt, at his own expense, raised the ceiling of the upper 
room about 1 862. Eleven feet of ground on the northeast side of the 
building was verbally given to the district by B. B. Griswold. No deed 
was made, but peaceable possession for twenty years has legalized it. 
Some years before, about eleven feet were thrown into the road leading 
to Columbia, and that action has been legalized in the same way by 
lapse of time. The land given by John Ward has no condition attached. 
The deed is on record. The deed was made to the trustees of the 
district, and a letter dated February 1 4th, 1 883, from L. W. Thurber, 
County Superintendent, and which letter is on the school file, says: "If 
the first or original deed was made to the trustees of your School Dis- 

59 



THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS of MADISON, NEW JERSEY 

trict, the control of the present building is in their hands, and the upper 
floor can be used for school or such other purposes as a majority of the 
board may decide. All acts inconsistent with this have been repealed. 
The State has no claim on the property in the School District." 

The citizens of Madison have always taken an active interest in 
the public school, and to-day, with its splendid enquipment, shows a 
development in keeping with the progress of our borough. With an 
enrollment of over six hundred pupils; twenty-one teachers and a super- 
vising principal; a building that equals any in the State for thorough- 
ness of construction and architectural beauty; a curriculum that gives to 
the pupils a thorough education and fits them for college and for the 
various duties of life, shows an advancement that every person in Madi- 
son can well feel proud of, and although more than a century has been 
required to reach this mark, few communities can boast of a more sub- 
stantial or satisfactory progress. 



THE ORGANIZATION OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM OF 
MADISON, NEW JERSEY, 1910 

The present organization of Madison's school system is as fol- 



ows: 



The two schools: 

The Central Avenue School with. . . . 325 scholars 

The Greene Avenue School with .... 280 scholars 

Total 605 scholars 



MADISON BOARD OF EDUCATION, 1910 

Fred B. Bardon, President. 

F. L. Van ETTEN, Vice-President 

C. W. Scarborough, M. D. 

Milton Megargel. 

Edward L. Cook. 

Y. Emmet Wilson, Clerk* 

61 



THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS of MADISON, NEW JERSEY 

CORPS OF TEACHERS OF THE MADISON SCHOOL 

1910-1911. 

Supervising Principal, Marcellus Oakey. 
HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS. 
Vice-Principal, Mabel L. Bernhard. 
Anna M. Kerner, Grace E. Faulks, Beulah V. Cole. 

Commercial Course, Mildred F. Colburn. 
Eighth Grade, Edna B. Sterner. 
Seventh Grade, Edina M. Johnson. 
Sixth Grade, Olive A. Briggs. 
Fifth A Grade, Jessie B. Couch. 
Fifth B Grade, Louise B. Hopping. 
Fourth A Grade, Madelene Hendershot. 
Fourth B Grade, Edna R. Green. 
Fourth D Grade, Bessie E. Bothwell. 
Third A Grade, Pearl A. Hazen. 
Third B Grade, Mary L. Shepherd. 
Second A Grade, Lucy D. Anthony. 
Second C Grade, Alice Brower. 
First A Grade, Mary C. Beach. 
Second C Grade, Sarah H. Brundage. 
Entering Class, Helen F. Rowe. 
Music, Jennette Griffin. 
Manual Training and Drawing, Alice C. Roberts. 



GENERAL COURSE OF STUDY, MADISON HIGH 

SCHOOL 

First year. Third year. 

English 5 periods English 3 periods 

Algebra 5 Physics 5 

Civics, 1 st term, Phys. Algebra, completed 3 

Geog., 2d term 3 Vocal Music 1 

Vocal Music 1 Elect two — 

Mech. Draw, (optional) . 2 Latin 5 

Elect one — German 5 

Latin 5 French 5 

German 5 Italian 5 

French 5 Med. and Modern Hist . 3 

Italian 5 Fourth year. 

Second year. English * 3 

English 4 Vocal Music 1 

62 



THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS of MADISON, NEW JERSEY 



PI. Geometry 5 

Anc, Greek, Rom. Hist. 3 

Botany 3 

Vocal Music 1 

Elect one — 
Continue language of first 

year, either 

Latin 5 

German 5 

French 5 

Italian 5 



Continue language of 

third year 5 

Elect two — 

Latin 5 

German 5 

French 5 

Italian 5 

English Hist. 1 st, Am. 

Hist. 2d term 5 

Chemistry 5 

Sol. Geom, & Trigon . . 4 
Arithmetic, review 3 



COMMERCIAL COURSE MADISON HIGH SCHOOL 



First year. 

English 5 

Bookkeeping and Commer- 
cial Arith 5 

Algebra 5 

Vocal Music 1 

Mechanical Drawing 

(opt) 2 

Elect one — 
Civics |/2 yr. and Physical 
Geography (2d term) . 3 

Latin 5 

German 5 

French 5 

Italian 5 

Second year. 

English 4 

Bookkeeping and Commer- 
cial Law 4 

Typewriting 3 

Plane Geometry 5 

Vocal Music 1 

Elect one — 
Greek and Roman His- 
tory 3 

One Language 5 

Botany 3 



Third year. 

periods English 3 periods 

Typewriting and Sten- 
ography 5 

Vocal Music 1 

Elect two — 

One Language 5 

Bookkeeping and Busi- 
ness practice 4 

Third year Algebra .... 3 
Physics 5 



Fourth year. 

periods English 3 periods 

Stenography 5 

Vocal Music 1 

Elect two — 

One Language 5 

Typewriting 3 

English and U. S. His- 
tory 5 

Chemistry 5 

Mathematics or Arith. 
Review 3 



63 



Since the foregoing pages were put in type the death of Mr. 
James A. Webb occurred, which reduces the number of those who 
took an active part in the erection of School Building No. 1 , on Greene 
avenue, to three persons. Mr. Webb identified himself in public school 
matters very early in life, and that interest never waned up to the time 
of his death, on October 29, 1910. The public schools of Madison 
have thus lost an earnest advocate, a liberal contributor and a true 
friend. His signature, as a visitor at the opening of the new Central 
avenue school on Monday, September 5, 1910, will be treasured, as 3 
loving tribute to the work in which he was so deeply interested. 



64 



